Sweet Toddlers

Yesterday we spent the day at the La Jolla shopping center: going on train rides, browsing through shops, evading scary tigers, and bird-watching by the fountain. Here is Isabel at the fountain in her new glasses she got about two weeks ago. She is doing rather well with wearing them now, although it has taken nearly the entire time. She is wearing her new Basque Blouse I came up with after playing with elastic thread for the first time - so fun. I absolutely LOVE the new cotton shirting I found.
I have also been doing some research on activities to do with toddlers, and thought how it would be nice to post them here for others, since I am compiling and editing all the information anyway. Enjoy - and feel free to write me if you have any great ideas that haven't been posted. (But I have a ton more that I hope to post in the near future.)

Surprise Boxes and Bags. Fill a container (bag, box, etc.) with random and unusual objects. Kitchen stuff works great, as well as any random yet safe everyday objects you may find in the garage or bathroom. Some of the things I have used and like are colanders (make great hats), turkey basters, other little boxes and containers, unusual seed capsules (though be sure to know your plants and be safe!), clothes pins, paper cups, etc. etc. This is usually good for a lot of fun play time. An older child may like finding where the items belong and enjoy putting them away - never too early to start that!!

Also, don't forget to turn up some music and dance, dance, dance!!! Different types of music give opportunities for different types of expressive movement, and so we sometimes put on jazz or classical, and see what becomes of that. :)